Vehicle wheel



Dec. 5, 1949 S. SE SERMAN VEHICLE WHEEL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 22, 1947 INVENTOR. SCl/THMQL SM'm/Q/n p -6% ATTORNEY Dec. 6, 1949 s SESERMAN 2,490,6Q3

VEHICLE WHEEL Filed March 22, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVENTOR. Swmaed Sewn/n,

BYddK g A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 6, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 10 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in vehicle wheels and more especially to vehicle Wheels having a hub section adapted to be secured on an axle, and a wheel body section which is mountable on and de-moun-table from the hub section. The invention provides so that the wheel body quickly and easily may be mounted and demounted by reason of improved mechanism which locks the wheel body on the hub section and which assures against any accidental or unauthorized release of the locking means.

It is among the objects of the invention to provide a vehicle wheel having a wheel body which readily may be mounted on a hub section and be locked thereto by mere rotation of a locking ring which subsequently is secured in looking position by means which itself may be locked against release.

Another object is to provide a fie-mountable wheel body on a hub section having a plurality of regions of securement around the wheel axis, and having means for effecting simultaneous securement of the wheel body on the hub section at said plurality of regions, and including a clamp which is effective at all of said regions simultaneously for assuring against accidental release of the securing means.

Yet another object is to provide a vehicle wheel having a hub section and a wheel body mountable on and ole-mountable from the hub section, and having a locking ring for effecting a locking of the wheel body on the hub section by mere partial rotation of the locking ring, the ring itself being subsequently clamped against move ment out of locking position.

A further object is to provide a sectional wheel including a hub section and a wheel body section of which the wheel body section is readily mountable n the hub section, and a locking ring is rotatable into locking engagement with the wheel body and portions of the hub section, there being manually operable leverage means for subsequently clamping the hub section, wheel body and locking ring rigidly together against relative movement.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure of vehicle wheels and more especially such wheels which have a wheel body removably mounted on a hub section of wheel.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is an edge elevation of a vehicle wheel embodying features of the invention, one-half of the wheel being in medial vertical cross-sectionon line l-| of Fig. 4;

2 Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to the cross-sectional portions of Fig. -l

5 but showing the clamping ring in clamping posi tion;

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of the central p'or= tion of the wheel of Fig. 1, on a larger scale,

looking at the outer face thereof, with the lock-' 10 ing ring in unlocked relation to the retaining studs and with the clamping means being also dieated by dotted lines in its clamping position; and

Fig. 5 is a view looking at the lower edge of the mechanism of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is 11- lustrated as it may be embodied in an automobile wheel having a hub ID with the usual integral brake drum l2 thereon to whose outer wall M the body l6 of the wheel is removably secured. The

hub I0 is adapted to be secured on an axle to rotate therewith in a customary manner, and the wheel body is mountable for rotation with the hub and brake drum, being readily removable therefrom as when it may be desirable or necessary to change a tire on the rim 18 of the wheel body.

According to the invention, the Wheel body I6 is retained on the hub and brake drum by a series 39 of studs 20 which coact with manually operable locking and clamping means for securely clamping the wheel body simultaneously at all of the studs so that the wheel body is maintained strongly pressed against the outer wall M of the brake drum as well as being positively held by the studs 20 against rotation on the hub and drum.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 4, each of the studs 20 is threaded at its inner end as at 2!, for screw- 4@ ing into the outer wall I4 of the brake drum, and

is annularly grooved at 22 near its outer end. The studs 20,- having been screwed into wall l4,

remain permanently therein as outwardly pro-- jecting fixed studs equally spaced apart around 4 the hub Ill.

5 ring 26 whose interior diameter preferably is somewhat greater than the exterior dimensions of hub Ill; so that ring 26 may fit the hub in spaced relation thereto.

As best seen in Fig. l, the inner margin of web I9 and the stabilizing ring 26 have registernular rib 32 at the location of each stud 26, live it such locations being represented in Fig. 4. Referring to Fig. 2, the screws 24 which secure together the web IQ of the wheel body and the stabilizing ring 26, clamp the collars 34 securely between the stabilizing ring 26 and the annular ribs 32 on web 19 to provide a rigid unit.

When mounting the wheel body It on the hub and brake drum I0, M, the wheel body is held with the openings 28, 30 opposite the studs 20,

and then is thrust inward with studs 20 entering the openings 28, 36 and passing through the collars 34, each stud 20 ultimately projecting outward beyond the stabilizing ring 26 at the outer face of the wheel. A locking ring 36 is rotatably mounted on the outer side of stabilizing ring 26 and has bayonet slots 38 therein whose larger portions are adapted to receive the outer end portions of studs 20. Hence, before the wheel body is thrust inward on the studs 20, the larger portions of the bayonet slots 38 first are bI'Ought into register with the openings 30 in the stabilizing ring 26, as shown in Fig. 4. For this purpose, and also to permit a locking rotation thereof, the locking ring 36 is rotatably secured on the stabilizing ring by means of a retaining member a 40 which may be secured to the stabilizing ring 26 in any suitable manner, as by the screws 42.

With the bayonet slots 38 properly aligned with openings 30 as above explained, the wheel body may be thrust inward on studs 20 until the inner margin of web I9 engages the outer wall M of the brake drum. The outer ends of the studs 2i) now will be projected through the bayonet slots 38 of the locking ring 36. For the purpose of locking the ring on the studs, the annular groove 22 in the end portion of each stud 26 provides a stud portion of reduced diameter which can slidably fit in the smaller portion of a bayonet slot 38, and the reduced portions of the studs are positioned s0 that, when the wheel body is thrust inward against the brake drum wall [4, they will be opposite the locking ring 36. Hence a slight rotation of locking ring 36 in direction to bring the reduced portions of the studs into the smaller portions of the bayonet slots 38 will lock the wheel body against axial movement away from the wall I4 of the brake drum.

According to the invention, after the wheel body thus has been locked by the locking ring, the wheel body is pressed strongly inward against the drum wall I4 and the locking ring 36 simultaneously is pressed strongly outward against the outermost walls of the annular grooves 22 of studs 20 thereby to secure the locking ring 36 against any movement relative to the wheel body and the hub and brake drum and to effect a general rigidity of the composite wheel structure so long as said inward and outward pressures continue.

In the embodiment herein represented, the inward and outward clamping pressures are attained by means of an annular cam member 46 which is mounted on the stabilizing ring 26 for both rotational and axial movements. The cam member 46 has a series of cam projections 48 at the inner side thereof for camming coaction with a series of cam grooves 50 in the adjacent wall of the stabilizing ring 26. The cam member 46 is located on the stabilizing ring 26 between the wall thereof having the cam grooves 59 and the locking ring 36 and, upon rotation of the cam member in one direction, the surfaces of the cam grooves 69 coact with the cam projections 48 on the cam member to force the latter outward into contact with said locking ring 36, and further rotation of the cam member, with further outward travel thereof, causes the locking ring to be thrust strongly against the outermost walls of the annular grooves 22 in studs 20, as shown in Fig. 3. Simultaneously, the stabilizing ring 26 and web 19 are forcibly thrust in the opposite direction to press the inner marginal portion of the web It into intimate contact with wall M of the brake drum.

Conveniently, the rotation of cam member 46 may be effected by a lever 52 pivoted on the stabilizing ring 26 by means of a pivot stud 54 which extends loosely through a slot 56 in the locking ring 35, as seen in Figs. 2 and 4, and on whose outer reduced end the lever 52 is rotatably secured by the screw 55. The cam member 46 has a rack 58 rigid thereon, and lever 52 has a gear segment 68 rigid therewith and in mesh with the teeth of rack 58.

In operation, the mounting of a wheel body on the hub and brake drum section of the wheel will proceed as already described by arranging the wheel body on the studs 20 and pushing it inward until the inner marginal portion of the web 59 engages the wall M of the brake drum, in which position the annularly grooved outer end portions of the studs will have been projected through the openings 28, 36 so that the grooves 22 of the studs stand opposite the locking rin 36. At this time, the lever 52 will be in its elevated full line position of Fig. 4, or in any other convenient position substantially swung clockwise from its dotted clamping position of Fig. 4, so that the clamping ring will be loose on studs 20. Hence, the locking ring 36 is free to be rotated counterclockwise in Fig. 4-. to engage the reduced portions 22 of studs 20 in the smaller portions of the bayonet slots 38 for locking the wheel body against axial movement relative to the hub ill.

Next, the lever 52 is forced counter-clockwise in Fig. 4 thereby to rotate the cam member 46 counter-clockwise so that it is cammed outward by the coaction of the cam surfaces of cam grooves 56 in the stabilizing rin 26 and the cam projections 48 on the cam member 46. Continued counter-clockwise movement of the lever effects outward movement of the cam member 46 and the locking ring 36 until ring 36 is pressed forcibly against the outer walls of the annular grooves 22 of studs 26. This securely clamps the locking ring 36 against rotation on stabilizing ring 26 as the stabilizing ring 26 and web l9 simultaneously are forcibly cammed inward to thrust the inner marginal portion of the web into intimate contact with brake drum wall id. The result is an extremely rigid composite wheel whose parts are securely locked together.

When lever 52 is in its clamping position, shown dotted in Fig. 4., the outer end portion of the lever preferably will be directly in front of a stud 20 so that cylinder 62 of a plunger type of lock, mounted on lever 52, may be depressed into locking engagement with the stud 26, the inner end of the cylin- 5;. Thaloclc. may hoof aknowntype whosecylinw der. t2, springs outward when. unlocked.

Demoun-ting of a wheel bodyi'rom; its hub: and. brakedrum sectionq-uickly and. easilymay be accomplished by reversing the procedure as demribedfor. its mounting,

I claim as my invention-:

1. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub section adaptedto-be secured on. an axle torotate therewith, a plurality of fixedv studs: projecting outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which. said studs extend, a lockin ring on the wheel body and rotatable relative to the wheel body into locking engagement with all of said studs simultaneously, and a second rin on the, wheelv body mounted for both axial, and rotational movement relative to said wheel body and said locking ring for clamping said locking ring against movement out of said locking engagement with the studs and simultaneously clamping the wheel body against said. hub section.

2. A. vehicle wheel comprising a hub. section adaptedto-be secured on an axle to. rotate there,- with, a plurality of fixed studs. projecting, outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which said studs extend, said studs each having an annular peripheral groove at an outer end portion thereof, a locking ring mounted on the wheel body and having a plurality of bayonet slots therein through the larger portions of which said grooved end portions of the studs are adapted to extend when the wheel body is being mounted on the hub section, said locking ring being movable relative to the wheel body to engage the reduced portions of the studs at said grooves simultaneously in the smaller portions of said bayonet slots, and means for spreading apart said wheel body and said locking ring respectively against said hub section and against walls of the annular grooves in said studs thereby to secure the hub section, wheel body and locking ring against relative movement.

3. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub section adapted to be secured on an axle to rotate there with, a plurality of fixed studs projecting outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which said studs extend, a locking ring movably mounted on the wheel body, there being ccacting means on said studs and on said locking ring whereby said locking ring movable into and out of simultaneous locking engagement with all of said studs, and a cam ring on the wheel body and rotatable independently of rotation of said wheel body and said locking ring, there being coacting means on said wheel body and cam ring for clamping said locking ring in its locking engagement with said studs and for simultaneously clamping said wheel body to said hub section.

A vehicle wheel. comprising a hubsection adapted to be secured on an axle to rotate there with a wheel body mounted on said hub section, coacting means on said hub section and said wheel body preventing relative rotation thereof, said coacting means comprising a series of studs fixed on the hub section and extending through and beyond the wheel body, a slotted ring member mounted on the wheel body and capable of both axial and rotational movements thereon, said slotted ring member being arranged with a said stud of the hub section extending through each slot at: inciting member and-,being;m0vab1e-be tween a position in. which said hub: section and Said wheel: body aremaintained against separation and a pQsition-in the said wheel body is readily separable 15mm said hub section, and, a cam ring separately rotatable on-the wheel body for clamping said, slotted ring; member-in the first said position with; the wheel'- bodysecured against separation, from the hub, section.

5; A vehicle: wheel: comprising a hub section adapted to,-be sec ured on an axle to rotate therewith, means, rigid, on said; hub section; and: projecting: outwardly therefrom, a wheel body removably' mounted on said; hub section, said outwardly proieetingmeans; on the hub section preventing rotation of, the Wheel body on the. hub section, locking means mounted on the wheel body and movable into locking engagement with said outwardly projectingmeans, on the hub, and simultaneously at, a plurality of locations aroundthe hub, a, cam. ring: rotatable onthe wheel body, andi leverage means; operable to rotate the am ring; for; clamping the locking; means, in its said lo king enga em n 6;. A. vehicle wheel comprising a hub sectionadaptedto; be secured. on. an axle to rotate therewith, a, plurality of, fixed studs projecting outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which said studs extend, an inwardly facing shoulder on each stud at an other end region thereof, a locking member on the wheel section and movable into and out of simultaneous locking relation to said shoulders of all of the studs, and a cam ring rotatable on the wheel body for camming said locking member against said shoulders when it is in its said locking relation thereto and for simultaneously camming said wheel body against said hub section.

7. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub section adapted to be secured on an axle to rotate therewith, a plurality of fixed studs projecting outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which said studs extend, an inwardly facing shoulder on each stud at an outer end region thereof, a locking ring movably mounted on the wheel body and movable into and out of simultaneous locking relation to said shoulders of all of the studs, a cam ring movably mounted on the wheel body, and means for moving the cam ring to clamp said locking ring against said shoulders of the studs and to clamp said wheel body against said hub section.

8. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub section adapted to be secured on an axle to rotate therewith, a plurality of fixed studs projecting outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which said studs extend, a locking ring movably mounted on the wheel body, there being coacting means on said studs and on said locking ring whereby said looking ring is movable into and out of simultaneous locking engagement with all of said studs, a cam rin movably mounted on the wheel body, and leverage means for actuating the cam ring to apply inward pressure to the wheel body and outward pressure to said locking ring.

9. A vehicle wheel comprising a hub section adapted to be secured on an axle to rotate therewith, a plurality of fixed studs projecting outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which said studs extend, a locking ring rotatably mounted on the wheel body and having a plurality of bayonet slots therein through whose larger portions said studs are adapted to project when said wheel body is being mounted, each said stud having an annularly grooved outer end providing a reduced diameter portion adapted to fit the smaller portion of a said bayonet slot, and said locking ring being rotatable to simultaneously engage the reduced diameter portions of all of said studs in said smaller portions of the bayonet slots, thereby to lock the wheel body on the hub section, and means including a cam for clamping said locking ring against movement out of looking position.

10. A vehicle wheel comprising a-hub section adapted to be secured on an axle to rotate therewith, a plurality of fixed studs projecting outwardly from the hub section, a wheel body removably mounted on said hub section and having openings therein through which said studs extend, a locking ring rotatably mounted on the wheel body and having a plurality of bayonet slots therein through whose larger portions said studs are adapted to project when said wheel 8 body is being mounted, each said stud having an annularly grooved outer end providing a reduced diameter portion adapted to fit the smaller portion of a said bayonet slot, and said locking ring being rotatable to simultaneously engage the reduced diameter portions of all of said studs in said smaller portions of the bayonet slots, thereby to lock the wheel body on the hub section, a cam ring rotatably mounted on the wheel body and also axially slidable thereon, said wheel body having cam surfaces for coaction with the cam ring, and leverage means for rotating the cam ring thereby to efiect an axial movement thereof into clamping engagement with said locking ring.

SAMUEL SESERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,353,511 Baumgartl Sept. 21, 1920 1,947,178 Wilson Feb. 13, 1934 2,008,330 McGuigan July 16, 1935 2,018,190 Robinson Oct. 22, 1935 

